NCELA Nexus is a bimonthly e-newsletter designed to keep you up-to-date on new resources, upcoming events and other announcements, and provide links to opportunities for jobs, education, and funding related to the education of ELs and the EL community.

Access to Free Online ResourcesEducation Connections is an online network of teachers managed by CAL, which provides access to a wide range of free online resources and information for educators working with English learners.

Join the Education Connections community today for easy online access to free webinars, teacher-created videos and lesson plans, and a community of educators working together to implement standards-based instruction across the country. Enter the Education Connections Monthly Lesson Plan Contest and win $100.

Win an all-expenses-paid tripEducation Connections is excited to offer an all-expenses-paid trip to Seattle in July for two teachers to be featured as teacher leaders at a conference focusing on Common Core implementation and the role of teacher networks. Enter online by May 31st to share your experiences and connect with other teachers around the country.

CAL Institutes: Professional Development Opportunities in Washington, DCCAL Institutes provide research-based strategies and practical, hands-on tools, and help teachers develop classroom activities that target the academic language demands of college and career readiness standards, including the Common Core State Standards.

An expanded calendar of institutes through December 2014 is now available, including the popular Spanish Literacy institute and SIOP Training of Trainers institutes. Join CAL this year in DC.

Teaching Reading to Students Learning English: Training of Trainers and Direct StrategiesThe What's Different About Teaching Reading to Students Learning English professional development program provides educators with research-based practical strategies for teaching literacy to English learners in reading, ESL, or grade-level content instruction. The Training of Trainers workshop is designed for specialists to provide professional development for educators teaching reading skills and reading comprehension strategies to English learners. The Direct Strategies workshop provides these strategies related to literacy instruction for educators working directly with English learners. Learn more.

SIOP Workshops for Coaches and Professional Development StaffInstructional coaches and other professional development staff further develop their knowledge of the SIOP Model and learn ways to guide and support others who are developing SIOP expertise. CAL staff can support these instructional leaders as they coach other teachers or develop and implement a professional development program for their schools. Learn more.

English That Works: Designing and Delivering Workforce ESL Instruction
In this workshop, participants explore skills needed by adult English learners to thrive in the workplace. Through readings, activities, and strategic planning, practitioners prepare to provide both the language and cultural information needed for success in the U.S. workforce and plan lessons accordingly. Learn more.

WIDA's annual conference will provide preK through Grade 12 educators of language learners opportunities for professional development, idea sharing, relationship building, and strategic collaboration. The theme for the 2014 conference is Creating Language-Rich Academic Learning Environments and is designed to meet the needs of educators ranging from general education, content area, special education, and ESL/bilingual teachers to district and state administrators. The program will feature examples of outstanding practice from the educators themselves, as well as nationally renowned experts in the field. CAL is proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the WIDA 2014 National Conference.

CAL is proud to be a partner and sponsor of La Cosecha 2014. This annual conference, hosted by the Dual Language Education of New Mexico, brings together educators, parents, researchers and practitioners supporting dual language enrichment programs in New Mexico and across the United States.

Developing Academic Literacy and Language in the Content AreasBased on a 21st century approach to academic literacy that is aligned with today's rigorous standards, this resource includes a comprehensive workbook, authentic classroom videos, and two complete unit plans on CD-ROM. Learn more.

SIOP in Action: Instructional Videos Featuring Complete SIOP Lessons at Three
Grade LevelsThree videos, available on one DVD with a companion viewers guide, illustrate three SIOP lessons at different grade levels: second grade, eighth grade, and high school/GED. Designed to deepen understanding of SIOP Model implementation at the classroom level and to support professional development initiatives, these videos are also used in CAL SIOP professional development workshops and online learning. Learn more and watch a video clip.

What's Different About Teaching Reading to Students Learning English?
This resource provides teacher trainers and other educators with a research-based curriculum to guide the professional development of classroom and ESL teachers who teach literacy skills and reading comprehension in classes where some or all of the students are English learners. This widely used professional development tool includes a comprehensive trainer's manual, a study guide designed for use by individual teachers, and a DVD of the popular video Why Reading Is Hard. Learn more.